Springfield, Ohio — Five Wittenberg University football standouts Mark Swope (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn), Aaron Coeling (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville), Spencer Leno (Massillon, Ohio/Washington), Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) and Brendon Cunningham (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) have earned All-North Region honors from D3football.com.
Coeling, a senior offensive tackle, and Swope, a senior safety, both earned first-team all-region honors. It was Swope’s first regional accolade, while Coeling moved up from the third team designation he collected a year ago. Leno, a senior linebacker, Banjo, a senior cornerback selected for his play on special teams, and Cunningham, a senior wide receiver, all earned spots on the second team, the first regional award for each student-athlete.
Coeling was the foundation of one of the Tigers’ finest offensive units in Wittenberg history. He and his offensive line mates cleared the way for a squad that racked up averages of 45.4 points and a league-leading 511.5 yards per game, both of which ranked among the best in all of NCAA Division III. Wittenberg allowed just 15 sacks in 12 games for a second straight season while pacing the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in passing efficiency and ranking second in rushing and passing yards. Coeling earned first-team all-conference honors in both 2012 and 2013.
Swope ranked seventh on the team in tackles in 2013, piling up 55 stops, including five tackles for loss. He also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and led the Tigers with nine passes defensed, including eight break-ups. Swope earned first-team All-NCAC in 2013, second-team All-NCAC in 2012 and honorable mention All-NCAC in 2011.
Leno led the Tigers in tackles for a second straight season en route to first-team all-league recognition after claiming a spot on the second team in 2012. Banjo was a second-team all-conference selection after racking up 49 tackles a team-leading three interceptions at cornerback, and he picked up the D3football.com award in large part thanks to his league-leading four blocked kicks.
Cunningham rounded out the all-region honorees after finishing the 2013 season with 63 catches for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns, each of which rank second in program history. He finished his career with 172 receptions, which ranks third in school history, 2,870 yards, which ranks second, and 30 touchdowns, which ranks second. Cunningham earned first-team All-NCAC in 2013 after a pair of second-team designations in years previous.
Wittenberg bounced back from a season-opening loss to NCAA Division I FCS opponent Butler to win its fourth NCAC title in the last five years and league-best 12th since joining the league in 1989. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament before losing to defending national champion Mount Union on Nov. 30 to finish with records of 10-2 overall and 9-0 in the NCAC.
Written By: Ryan Maurer